Strap divider

ABSTRACT

A strap divider has a base plate with a exterior surface and an interior surface, a post mounted to the interior surface of the base plate and running parallel to the interior surface of the base plate, and a cover plate having an interior surface and an exterior surface, a front end and a rear end. The rear end of the cover plate has a post-receiving cavity that is adapted to snap onto the post to rotatably connect the base plate to the cover plate, with the interior surfaces of the base plate and cover plate facing each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a strap divider for bicycle helmets. Inparticular, the invention relates to a device for securing and dividinga chin strap on a bicycle helmet.

2. The Prior Art

Strap dividers are used on bicycle helmets to guide and separate thechin strap so that it may be secured on the helmet in two differentlocations. Examples of such dividers can be found in U.S. Pat. No.6,108,875 to Anscher and U.S. Pat. No. 7,203,972 to Pietrzak.

Since bicycle helmet straps can often come under a lot of stress, it isdesirable to have parts for the helmet that can withstand significantforce without bending or breaking. In addition, it would be desirable toprovide a strap divider that allows a wide angle for dividing the strap.This allows for more flexibility in attaching the strap to the helmet,as more spaced-apart strap arrangements are now possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a strap dividerthat allows for wide angle strap division, while maintaining sufficientstrength of the parts.

These and other objects are accomplished by a strap divider having abase plate with an exterior surface and an interior surface, a postmounted to the interior surface of the base plate and running parallelto the interior surface of the base plate, and a cover plate having aninterior surface and an exterior surface, a front end and a rear end.The rear end of the cover plate has a post-receiving cavity that isadapted to snap onto the post to rotatably connect the base plate to thecover plate, with the interior surfaces of the base plate and coverplate facing each other.

In use, a strap is fed between the base plate and the cover plate, andthe cover plate is pressed downward to keep the strap in position. Onone side of the post, the strap is fed in as a double layer strap, whichthen divides as the strap exits the post. The double layer portion isused as a chin strap on a bicycle helmet, while the divided portion isattached the helmet in two different locations.

In one embodiment, the rear end of the base plate is equipped withstrap-retaining elements that grip a strap when a strap is threadedbetween the base plate and the cover plate and the front end of thecover plate is pressed toward the base plate. These elements can beteeth, protrusions, etc.

The post receiving cavity can be disposed on the exterior surface of thecover plate or on the interior. When it is disposed on the exterior ofthe plate, the cover plate is placed underneath the post and snappedinto place by pressing upward on the post. When the cavity is on theinterior of the cover plate, the cover plate is secured by placing thecover plate on top of the post and pressing downward on the cover plateuntil it snaps onto the post.

In order to mount the post on the base plate, the base plate has twoside walls extending upward from the interior surface and the post ismounted between the two side walls. This also provides a space throughwhich the strap is fed in use. The post can be mounted on the side wallsat one end of the base plate, or can be mounted in the center of thebase plate. When the post is mounted across the center of the baseplate, the base plate is symmetrical from front to back and the coverplate can be mounted facing in either direction.

In another embodiment, the base plate has a strap slot disposed alongone end thereof. The strap is fed in between the cover plate and thebase plate and can then be fed through the slot before dividing, tofurther secure the strap to the strap divider.

For further securing of the strap, the base plate can have strapretaining elements disposed on its interior face, near the strap slot.These strap retaining elements grip the strap and prevent it fromslipping once the strap is in the proper position. The strap retainingelements can be protrusions, teeth, a serrated ridge, etc.

There can also be an additional strap securing slot located at anopposite end of the base plate from the first strap securing bar. Thisway, the strap is fed through this additional strap slot, through thespace between the cover plate and base plate, and out through the firststrap slot. The strap divides at the point where it passes the two sidewalls, which keeps the strap in an overlapping configuration.

In one embodiment, the base plate has a wider end and a narrower end.The front of the cover plate is disposed adjacent the narrower end andthe strap is fed through this narrower end and exits out the wider endin a split configuration. The wider end of the base plate canaccommodate a wide division between the straps, so that they can besecured to the helmet spaced far apart.

In an alternative embodiment, the strap divider has a base plate havinga wider end, a narrower end, and two side edges, and a cover platehaving a wider end, a narrower end, and two side edges. The cover plateis pivotally connected at the narrower end to the narrower end of thebase plate so as to pivot in a plane that is parallel to the plane ofthe cover plate and base plate. The cover plate has a series of curvedtransverse slots therethrough and the base plate has at least onetransverse ridge. This ridge extends through a middle one of the slotsand grips a strap that is threaded through the other slots on eitherside of the middle slot. This keeps the strap from sliding around whileit is inserted in the strap divider. The ridge can have strap grippingteeth or protrusions located along its top edge to increase itseffectiveness.

In this embodiment the base plate preferably has an overhanging lipextending around the wider end, and the wider end of the cover platefits beneath the lip when the base plate and cover plate are pivoted tooverlap each other.

The cover plate can be connected to the base plate via a button on thebase plate or cover plate, and an aperture on the other one of the baseplate and cover plate. The button is snapped into the aperture to securethe cover plate and base plate together, while allowing them to pivotrelative to each other.

The transverse ridge can have a transverse slit cut therethrough toincrease its flexibility when the strap is threaded through the slots.The parts of the ridge can flex in and out based on the pressure fromthe strap, while still gripping the strap. This also allows for strapsof different thicknesses to be used with the strap divider of thisembodiment.

The strap divider according to the invention can be made of any suitablemolded material, such as acetal resin, polyethylene or any othersuitable molded plastic. The invention could also be formed from metal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that, thedrawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition ofthe limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similarelements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 shows a top and front perspective view of a first embodiment ofthe strap divider according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the base plate of the embodiment ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the cover plate of the embodiment ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with a strapthreaded therethrough;

FIG. 7 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of the strapdivider according to the invention;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a strap threaded through theembodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 with a strapthreaded therethrough;

FIG. 10 shows a top view of another embodiment of the strap divideraccording to the invention;

FIG. 11 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 10 with a strapthreaded therethrough;

FIG. 13 shows a top view of a base plate of a further embodiment of astrap divider according to the invention;

FIG. 14 shows a top view of a cover plate for use with the base plate ofFIG. 13;

FIG. 15 shows a top view of the base plate and cover plates of FIGS. 13and 14 assembled;

FIG. 16 shows a side cross-sectional view of the embodiments of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 shows a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 15 with a strapthreaded therethrough; and

FIG. 18 shows a rear view a shown in FIG. 17 but with the base plate andcover plate pivoted away from each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now in detail to the drawings and, in particular, FIGS. 1-6show a first embodiment of a strap divider 10 according to theinvention. Strap divider 10 consists of a base plate 11 and a coverplate 12. Base plate 11 includes a base 14, and side walls 13 onto whicha horizontal bar 18 is connected. Cover plate 12 has a groove 19 on oneend, which snaps onto horizontal bar 18 to attach cover plate 12 to baseplate 11. Beneath groove 19 is a lower part 16 with teeth 17 forgripping straps 60 that is threaded in between base plate 11 and coverplate 12. Cover plate 12 is pivotally mounted onto base plate 11 so thatwhen a strap is threaded in between cover plate 11 and base plate 12, asshown in FIG. 6, cover plate 12 can be pushed downward toward straps 60until teeth 17 grip into straps 60. Cover plate 12 is formed to beslightly concave to facilitate pressing it downward without slipping.

As shown in FIG.6, straps threaded through from the front of strapdivider 10 to the rear, can be divided to extend in separate directionsas they exit from strap divider 10. The thin side walls 13 do notconstrain straps 60 to exit in a parallel configuration, so that straps60 can be attached at wider points along a helmet.

FIGS. 7-9 show a strap divider 20 that is a slightly different variationof strap divider 10. Here, the base plate has a symmetrical base 24, sothat side walls 13 are attached directly in the middle of base 24. Thisallows cover plate 12 to be attached facing in either direction, becausebase 24 is symmetrical from front to back. The cover plate 12 in thisvariation has a convex lip, which facilitates the lifting of cover plate12 to release straps that are secured in strap divider 20.

FIGS. 10-12 show an alternative embodiment of the invention. Here, strapdivider 30 comprises a base plate 31 with a cover plate 32 snapped ontop of horizontal bar 38 which is attached to base plate 31 via sidewalls 33. In this embodiment, base plate 31 has a strap bar 34 throughwhich strap 60 is threaded after it is placed in between base plate 31and cover plate 32. In addition, spikes 37 disposed along base plate 31adjacent slot 36 further acts to secure strap 60 and prevent slidingafter the straps are positioned and cover plate 32 is pressed into aclosed position. As in the first embodiment, cover plate 32 has teeth 35positioned along a lower ridge to grip strap 60 when cover plate 32 islowered over strap 60. There is also an additional strap securing bar 39located at the front of base plate 31, for additional securing of strap60, if desired. In FIG. 12, strap 60 is not shown threaded around thisbar, but if the straps need additional securing against slippage, strap60 could be placed under the front of base plate 31, then over bar 39and then under cover plate 32.

The wider rear end of base plate 31 with strap securing bar 34 allowsfor a particularly wide spread of straps 60 as they exit out fromunderneath cover plate 32.

FIGS. 13-18 show a fourth embodiment of the strap divider according tothe invention. In this embodiment, strap divider 40 is comprised of baseplate 41 and cover plate 42. Base plate 41 and cover plate 42 arepivotally connected to each other via a snap-in protrusion 43 on baseplate 41 that snaps into aperture 44 on cover plate 42. Once connected,cover plate 42 pivots in a plane parallel to the base plate 41, as shownin FIG. 18.

Cover plate 42 has a series of laterally extending curved slots 45, 46,47. Base plate 41 has a laterally extending curved ridge 48 with teeth51 that extends through slot 46 when cover plate 42 is pivoted tooverlap base plate 41, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. Ridge 48 is bisectedlongitudinally by a slot 49 that allows ridge 48 to be compressed bystraps 60 when straps 60 are threaded through slot 45, over ridge 48 andback through slot 47 (see FIGS. 16-18) where the straps then diverge forconnection to a helmet. The combination of slots 45, 46, 47 and ridge 48secures straps 60 to strap divider 40 and prevents them from slidingaround once they are in position. Straps 60 are first threaded throughcover plate 42 when it is pivoted away from base plate 41, as shown inFIG. 18, and then cover plate 42 is pivoted back onto base plate 41 andheld in position by lip 52. At this point, ridge 48 presses straps 60against slot 46 and teeth 51 to prevent any further slippage of strap 60while strap divider 40 is assembled.

To further secure cover plate 42 to base plate 41, an overhanging lip 52is arranged along the wider end of base plate 41. Thus, when cover plate42 is pivoted so as to be directly over base plate 41, cover plate 42 issecured under lip 52. Lip 52 can be arranged so that it exerts adownward pressure on cover plate 42 to prevent it from sliding outunless a user presses down on cover plate 42 and intentionally pivotsit.

Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the present invention havebeen shown and described, it is obvious that many changes andmodifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

1. A strap divider comprising: a base plate having a exterior surfaceand an interior surface; a post mounted to the interior surface of thebase plate and running parallel to the interior surface of the baseplate; and a cover plate having an interior surface and an exteriorsurface, a front end an a rear end, said rear end having a postreceiving cavity that is adapted to snap onto the post to rotatablyconnect the base plate to the cover plate, with the interior surfaces ofthe base plate and cover plate facing each other.
 2. The strap divideraccording to claim 1, wherein the rear end of the base plate is equippedwith strap-retaining elements that grip a strap when a strap is threadedbetween the base plate and the cover plate and the front end of thecover plate is pressed toward the base plate.
 3. The strap divideraccording to claim 1, wherein the post receiving cavity is disposed onthe exterior surface of the cover plate.
 4. The strap divider accordingto claim 1, wherein the base plate has two side walls extending upwardfrom the interior surface, and wherein the post is mounted between thetwo side walls.
 5. The strap divider according to claim 1, wherein thestrap securing elements are formed from a serrated ridge that faces theinterior surface of the base plate.
 6. The strap divider according toclaim 3, wherein the base plate has two opposite ends, and wherein thepost is mounted to the side walls equidistant between the two ends. 7.The strap divider according to claim 1, wherein the base plate has astrap securing bar disposed along one end thereof.
 8. The strap divideraccording to claim 1, wherein the base plate has strap retainingelements disposed on the interior face thereof.
 9. The strap divideraccording to claim 1, wherein the base plate has a wider end and anarrower end that is narrower than the wider end and wherein the frontof the cover plate is disposed adjacent the narrower end.
 10. The strapdivider according to claim 7, further comprising an additional strapsecuring bar located at an opposite end of the base plate from saidstrap securing bar.
 11. The strap divider according to claim 1, whereinthe post receiving cavity is disposed on the interior surface of thecover plate.
 12. A strap divider comprising: a base plate having a widerend, a narrower and that is narrower than the wider end, and two sideedges; and a cover plate having a wider end, a narrower end that isnarrower than the wider end, and two side edges, wherein the cover plateis pivotally connected at the narrower end to the narrower end of thebase plate so as to pivot in a plane that is parallel to the plane ofthe cover plate and base plate; wherein said cover plate has a series oftransverse slots therethrough and wherein said base plate has at leastone transverse ridge, such that said ridge extends through one of theslots and grips a strap that is threaded through other ones of theslots.
 13. The strap divider according to claim 12, wherein the baseplate has an overhanging lip extending around the wider end, and whereinthe wider end of the cover plate fits beneath the lip when the baseplate and cover plate are pivoted to overlap each other.
 14. The strapdivider according to claim 12, wherein the transverse ridges areequipped with strap-gripping teeth.
 15. The strap divider according toclaim 12, wherein there are three slots.
 16. The strap divider accordingto claim 12, wherein the cover plate is connected to the base plate viaa button on one of the base plate and cover plate, and an aperture onthe other one of the base plate and cover plate, said button beingsnapped into said aperture to secure the cover plate and base platetogether.
 17. The strap divider according to claim 12, wherein thetransverse ridge has a transverse slit cut therethrough.
 18. The strapdivider according to claim 12, wherein the transverse slots and thetransverse ridge are curved.